Method and system for display assembly hinging

ABSTRACT

A method and system for an overhead display assembly for an electronic machine are provided. The overhead display assembly includes a display monitor supported in a monitor frame translatable between an operational position and a maintenance and installation position angularly displaced from the operational position by a predetermined angle. The overhead display assembly also includes a support stanchion including a first anchor end, a second coupling end, and a stanchion body extending therebetween, the first anchor end configured to couple to a supporting structure. The overhead display assembly further includes a counter-balanced hinging mechanism coupled to and between the second coupling end and the monitor frame. The counter-balanced hinging mechanism includes one or more pivot bars configured to permit the monitor frame to pivot with respect to the support stanchion and a bias member coupled to the one or more pivot bars, the bias member configured to apply a variable amount of force to the one or more pivot bars, the variable amount of force maintains the monitor frame stationary in an intermittent position between the operational position and the maintenance and installation position.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments described herein relate generally to electronicequipment cabinets and, more particularly, to electronic gaming machines(EGM) including counterbalanced hinge assemblies for securing one ormore displays proximate the EGM.

At least some known EGMs include a display, also referred to as amonitor or a screen, within a cabinet housing at least a portion of theEGM. Additionally, other displays may also be associated with the EGMand be located proximate the EGM, but may not form an integral part ofthe EGM. For example, a lower display may be located next to the EGM andan upper display may be located above the EGM. The upper display may bepositioned high above a flooring surface on which the EGM is positionedthat maintenance personnel may have difficulty reaching the displaycomfortably without the use of a step ladder or other elevating device.For example, replacing and/or installing the display may require amaintenance technician lifting a monitor, which may weigh in excess offifty pounds, above the level of his head to position the monitor in itsmounted position. Climbing the elevating device while carrying thedisplay may comprise the work safety of the maintenance technician.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment, an overhead display assembly for an electronicmachine includes a display monitor supported in a monitor receivertranslatable between an operational position and a maintenance positionangularly displaced from the operational position by a predeterminedangle. The overhead display assembly also includes a support stanchionincluding a first anchor end, a second coupling end, and a stanchionbody extending therebetween, the first anchor end configured to coupleto a supporting structure. The overhead display assembly furtherincludes a counter-balanced hinging mechanism coupled to and between thesecond coupling end and the monitor frame. The counter-balanced hingingmechanism includes one or more pivot bars configured to permit themonitor frame to pivot with respect to the support stanchion and a biasmember coupled to the one or more pivot bars, the bias member configuredto apply a variable amount of force to the one or more pivot bars, thevariable amount of force maintains the monitor frame stationary in anintermittent position between the operational position and themaintenance and installation position.

In another embodiment, a gaming machine island includes a plurality ofgaming machines at which players play games with game play media, andwhich pay out game play media to players as a prize, one or morepedestals upon which the plurality of gaming machines are positioned andsupported, and a support stanchion configured to support one or morecomponents associated with the plurality of gaming machines, the supportstanchion including a first anchor end, a second coupling end, and astanchion body extending therebetween, the first anchor end configuredto couple to a supporting structure different from the one or morepedestals. The gaming machine island also includes a counter-balancedhinging mechanism coupled to and between the second coupling end and amonitor frame. The counter-balanced hinging mechanism includes one ormore pivot bars configured to permit the monitor frame to pivot withrespect to the support stanchion, and a bias member coupled between thesupport stanchion and the monitor frame, the bias member configured toapply a variable amount of force configured to maintain the monitorframe stationary in any of a plurality of intermediate positions betweenan approximately vertical operational position and an approximatelyhorizontal maintenance position.

In yet another embodiment, a method of maintaining a display assemblyfor an electronic machine is provided. The display assembly includes amonitor frame coupled to a counter-balanced hinge assembly. The methodincludes positioning the monitor frame in an approximately horizontalattitude with respect to the floor surface using the counter-balancedhinge assembly, aligning an outer edge of the display assembly with aninner surface of the monitor frame, translating the display assembly toa seated position within the monitor frame, and rotating the monitorframe to an approximately vertical attitude with respect to the floorsurface by applying a manual force to the monitor frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-9 show example embodiments of the method and apparatus describedherein.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an overhead display assembly for anelectronic machine.

FIG. 2 is perspective view of overhead display assembly incorporating asingle display monitor for plurality of EGMs.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of overhead display assembly in operablerelation to plurality of EGMs and pedestal.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a portion of overhead displayassembly illustrating a lower portion of the monitor frame in theoperational position and the second coupling end of the supportstanchion.

FIG. 5 is the side elevation view of a portion of the overhead displayassembly illustrating a lower portion of the monitor frame in themaintenance position and the second coupling end of the supportstanchion.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a counter-balanced hinging mechanism inaccordance with another example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the counter-balanced hingingmechanism in the operational position.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the counter-balanced hingingmechanism in the maintenance position.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method of maintaining a display assembly foran electronic machine wherein the display assembly includes a monitorframe coupled to a counter-balanced hinge assembly.

Although specific features of various embodiments may be shown in somedrawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. Any feature ofany drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with anyfeature of any other drawing.

Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings provided herein are meant toillustrate features of embodiments of the disclosure. These features arebelieved to be applicable in a wide variety of systems comprising one ormore embodiments of the disclosure. As such, the drawings are not meantto include all conventional features known by those of ordinary skill inthe art to be required for the practice of the embodiments disclosedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of thedisclosure by way of example and not by way of limitation. It iscontemplated that the disclosure has general application to physical andmethodical embodiments of a monitor hinging mechanism in industrial,commercial, and residential applications.

Embodiments of a monitor hinging mechanism are described herein. Themonitor hinging mechanism provides an improved motion controlling hingedevice, which effectively counterbalances the weight of a display membermounted in a monitor frame throughout an operative arc of its movement;automatically compensating for the variable torque (due to gravity)effects on the monitor frame as it swings between a horizontallyextending and a vertically standing attitude with respect to the floorsurface.

The following description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which,in the absence of a contrary representation, the same numbers indifferent drawings represent similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an overhead display assembly 100 foran electronic machine 102. In the example embodiment, electronic machine102 is a plurality of electronic gaming machines (EGMs) ganged togetherin an island formation. Plurality of electronic gaming machines are thetype of electronic machine at which players play games with game playmedia, and which pay out game play media to players as a prize. Invarious embodiments, electronic machine 102 may be a single stand-aloneelectronic machine 102 or may have any number of electronic machine 102associated with each other by proximity whether in an island formationor not.

Overhead display assembly 100 includes a display monitor 104 supportedin a monitor frame 106 at least partially surrounding display monitor104. Monitor frame 106 includes a plurality of legs 108 coupled aroundan opening 109 through which a respective display monitor 104 isviewable. Overhead display assembly 100 is configurable in severaldifferent arrangements. Each display monitor 104 may be associated witha respective one of a plurality of EGMs 102 as shown in FIG. 1.

A single display monitor 104 may be associated with more than one or allof the plurality of EGMs 102 as shown in FIG. 2. In the exampleembodiment, overhead display assembly 100 extends vertically above theplurality of EGMs 102 in an operational position 111 as shown. As willbe shown below, overhead display assembly 100 is not supported byplurality of EGMs 102 or by a pedestal 112 on which plurality of EGMs102 are positioned and supported. Rather, overhead display assembly 100is supported separately from plurality of EGMs 102 and pedestal 112using a support stanchion 114 that can only be partially seen in FIG. 1.In various embodiments, support stanchion 114 is supported by a floorsurface 116 or a wall surface 118. In other embodiments, supportstanchion 114 is supported by a false floor assembly 120 (not shown inFIG. 1).

FIG. 2 is perspective view of overhead display assembly 100incorporating a single display monitor 204 for plurality of EGMs 102.Overhead display assembly 100 may include a plurality of displaymonitors ganged together using a linear fixture 202 extending across anedge of each of the plurality of display monitors 204. In variousembodiments, linear fixture 202 includes an attraction lighting device206.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of overhead display assembly 100 inoperable relation to plurality of EGMs 102 and pedestal 112. In theexample embodiment, support stanchion 114 includes a first anchor end302, a second coupling end 304, and a stanchion body 306 extendingtherebetween. First anchor end 302 is configured to couple to asupporting structure, such as floor surface 116. Second coupling end 304is configured to couple to a counter-balanced hinging mechanism 308. Inother embodiments, support stanchion 114 is coupled to and supported byone or more braces 310 coupled to wall surface 118, in which casesupport stanchion 114 may not extend to floor surface 116.Counter-balanced hinging mechanism 308 permits monitor frame 106 anddisplay monitor 104 to be positioned in operational position 111, amaintenance position 311, or any of a plurality of intermediatepositions between operational position 111 and maintenance position 311along an angle 312. In the example embodiment, angle 312 is greater than30° such as, but not limited to approximately 90°. In some embodiments,operational position 111 may be other than vertical, which wouldtypically make angle 312 an acute angle, or an angle less than 90°.Additionally, monitor frame 106 and display monitor 104 may bepositioned such that angle 312 is obtuse, or greater than 90°. As willbe discussed in greater detail below counter-balanced hinging mechanism308 is configured to balance the force applied to monitor frame 106 anddisplay monitor 104 by counter-balanced hinging mechanism 308 and amoment of monitor frame 106 and display monitor 104 at any of theplurality of intermediate positions between operational position 111 andmaintenance position 311. Such counter-balancing of forces and momentpermits monitor frame 106 and display monitor 104 to be manuallytranslated between operational position 111 and maintenance position 311and maintain the intermediate position when the manual urging is ceased.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a portion of overhead displayassembly 100 illustrating a lower portion of monitor frame 106 inoperational position 111 and second coupling end 304 of supportstanchion 114. FIG. 5 is the side elevation view of a portion ofoverhead display assembly 100 illustrating a lower portion of monitorframe 106 in maintenance position 311 and second coupling end 304 ofsupport stanchion 114. In this embodiment, counter-balanced hingingmechanism 308 includes a single hinge pivot axis 402 and iscounter-balanced using a strut 404, such as a fluid cylinder and pistonarrangement. Other force producing devices may also be used forforce-balancing, for example, electrical and fluidic linear actuators,bias members, including linear springs, torsion springs, and the like.Strut 404 is sized and positioned to generate a balanced-force 406 thatis predetermined to counter the moment 408 of monitor frame 106 betweenoperational position 111 and maintenance position 311 and to “lock-in”monitor frame 106 at operational position 111 and maintenance position311.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a counter-balanced hinging mechanism 308in accordance with another example embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of counter-balanced hinging mechanism308 in operational position 110. FIG. 8 is a side elevation view ofcounter-balanced hinging mechanism 308 in maintenance position 311. Inthis embodiment, counter-balanced hinging mechanism 308 includes anL-shaped support bracket 502 configured to couple to support stanchion114. A first and a second pivot plate 504, 506 are coupled to L-shapedsupport bracket 502 edge-wise and each includes a pair of apertures 508,510, 512, 514. Apertures 508, 510, 512, 514 are configured to receive abias member, such as, a torsion bar or torsion spring style torqueengine configured to apply a variable amount of force to arm linkageassembly 524 and/or arm linkage assembly 526, the variable amount offorce maintains monitor frame 106 stationary in an intermittent positionbetween operational position 110 and maintenance position 311 respectivetorsion bar or torsion spring style torque engine 516, 518, 520, 522. Afirst arm linkage assembly 524 operatively couples torque engines 516,518, together and a second arm linkage assembly 526 operatively couplestorque engines 520, 522 together. A cam roller 528, 530 extendsoutwardly from respective ones of first arm linkage assembly 524 andsecond arm linkage assembly 526. A hinge plate 532, 534 is couplededgewise to a respective pivot plate 504, 506. A cam 536, 538 is coupledto monitor frame 106 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 4) and to a respective hingeplate 532, 534 through a pin 540, 542 and a spacer 544, 546. Cam roller528, 530 is configured to engage a cam surface 548, 550 of cam 536, 538.

In various embodiments, overhead display assembly 100 includescounter-balanced hinging mechanism 308 having a single pivot point asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In other embodiments, overhead display assembly100 includes counter-balanced hinging mechanism 308 having at least twopivot points as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method 900 of maintaining a display assemblyfor an electronic machine wherein the display assembly includes amonitor frame coupled to a counter-balanced hinge assembly. In theexample embodiment, method 900 includes positioning 902 the monitorframe in an approximately horizontal attitude with respect to the floorsurface using the counter-balanced hinge assembly, aligning 904 an outeredge of the display assembly with an inner surface of the monitor frame,translating 906 the display assembly to a seated position within themonitor frame, and rotating 908 the monitor frame to an approximatelyvertical attitude with respect to the floor surface by applying a manualforce to the monitor frame.

Optionally, method 900 further includes maintaining the monitor frame inan intermediate position between the approximately horizontal attitudewith respect to the floor surface and the approximately verticalattitude with respect to the floor surface using the counter-balancedhinge assembly when the manual force is removed at the intermediateposition. Method 900 also may include applying a counter-balancing forceto the monitor frame by the counter-balanced hinge assembly that isequal to a moment of the monitor frame. In various embodiments, thedisplay assembly includes a plurality of monitor frames coupled to thecounter-balanced hinge assembly and method 900 further includes gangingthe plurality of monitor frames together using a fixture coupled to aperiphery of the plurality of monitor frames. Method 900 also mayinclude applying a counter-balancing force to the monitor frame by thecounter-balanced hinge assembly, which includes applying acounter-balancing force to the monitor frame using at least one of atorsion bar, a torsion spring, and a piston/cylinder device.

It will be appreciated that the above embodiments that have beendescribed in particular detail are merely example or possibleembodiments, and that there are many other combinations, additions, oralternatives that may be included.

Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification andclaims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation thatcould permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basicfunction to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a termor terms, such as “about” and “substantially”, are not to be limited tothe precise value specified. In at least some instances, theapproximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrumentfor measuring the value. Here and throughout the specification andclaims, range limitations may be combined and/or interchanged, suchranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained thereinunless context or language indicates otherwise.

While the disclosure has been described in terms of various specificembodiments, it will be recognized that the disclosure can be practicedwith modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.

The above-described embodiments of a counter-balanced hinging mechanismprovide a cost-effective and reliable means for safely accessing acomponent that is elevated above a floor surface for maintenanceactivities. More specifically, the methods and systems described hereinfacilitate translating a display monitor from a vertical operationalposition to a horizontal maintenance position using minimal manualeffort and a hold-in-place feature that maintains an intermediateposition of the display monitor when the manual effort is removed. Inaddition, the above-described methods and systems facilitate maintainingthe display monitor in the operational or maintenance position byrequiring an additional start-off effort to begin movement of displayframe. As a result, the methods and systems described herein facilitatemaintenance of electronic machines in a cost-effective and reliablemanner.

This written description uses examples to describe the disclosure,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the disclosure, including making and using any devicesor systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scopeof the disclosure is defined by the claims, and may include otherexamples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples areintended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structuralelements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, orif they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantialdifferences from the literal languages of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An overhead display assembly for an electronicmachine, said overhead display assembly comprising: at least one displaymonitor supported in a monitor frame translatable between an operationalposition and a maintenance position angularly displaced from saidoperational position by a predetermined angle; a support stanchioncomprising a first anchor end, a second coupling end, and a stanchionbody extending therebetween, said first anchor end configured to coupleto a supporting structure; at least one cam coupled to and extendingfrom said second coupling end of said support stanchion, said at leastone cam including a curved cam surface; and a counter-balanced hingingmechanism coupled between said second coupling end and said monitorframe, said counter-balanced hinging mechanism comprising: at least onepivot bar configured to permit said monitor frame to pivot with respectto said support stanchion, said at least one pivot bar including a camroller configured to engage said curved cam surface of said at least onecam; and a bias member coupled to said at least one pivot bar, said biasmember configured to apply a variable amount of force to said at leastone pivot bar, wherein the variable amount of force maintains saidmonitor frame stationary in an intermittent position between theoperational position and the maintenance position.
 2. The overheaddisplay assembly of claim 1, wherein said support stanchion isconfigured to extend between the supporting structure and saidcounter-balanced hinging mechanism.
 3. The overhead display assembly ofclaim 1, wherein said predetermined angle is greater than 30 degrees. 4.The overhead display assembly of claim 1, wherein said overhead displayassembly comprises a plurality of display monitors.
 5. The overheaddisplay assembly of claim 1, wherein said overhead display assemblycomprises a plurality of display monitors ganged together using a linearfixture extending across an edge of each of said plurality of displaymonitors.
 6. The overhead display assembly of claim 5, wherein saidlinear fixture comprises an attraction lighting device.
 7. The overheaddisplay assembly of claim 1, wherein said bias member comprises at leastone of a torsion bar, a torsion spring, and a piston/cylinder device. 8.The overhead display assembly of claim 1, wherein said counter-balancedhinging mechanism comprises a single pivot point.
 9. The overheaddisplay assembly of claim 1, wherein said counter-balanced hingingmechanism comprises at least two pivot points.
 10. A system forsupporting an overhead display assembly of an electronic machine, thesystem comprising: a monitor frame configured to support at least onedisplay monitor, the monitor frame translatable between an operationalposition and a maintenance position angularly displaced from theoperational position by a predetermined angle; a support stanchioncomprising a first anchor end, a second coupling end, and a stanchionbody extending therebetween, the first anchor end configured to coupleto a supporting structure; at least one cam coupled to and extendingfrom the second coupling end of the support stanchion, the at least onecam including a curved cam surface; and a counter-balanced hingingmechanism coupled between the second coupling end and the monitor frame,the counter-balanced hinging mechanism comprising: at least one pivotbar configured to permit the monitor frame to pivot with respect to thesupport stanchion, the at least one pivot bar including a cam rollerconfigured to engage the curved cam surface of the at least one cam; anda bias member coupled to the at least one pivot bar, the bias memberconfigured to apply a variable amount of force to the at least one pivotbar, wherein the variable amount of force maintains the monitor framestationary in an intermittent position between the operational positionand the maintenance position.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the atleast one pivot bar comprises one or more arm linkage assemblies, andwherein the bias member comprises a torsion bar.
 12. The system of claim10, wherein the support stanchion is configured to extend between thesupporting structure and the counter-balanced hinging mechanism.
 13. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the predetermined angle is greater than 30degrees.
 14. The system of claim 10, wherein the overhead displayassembly comprises a plurality of display monitors.
 15. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the overhead display assembly comprises a plurality ofdisplay monitors ganged together using a linear fixture extending acrossan edge of each of the plurality of display monitors.
 16. The system ofclaim 15, wherein the linear fixture comprises an attraction lightingdevice.
 17. The system of claim 10, wherein the counter-balanced hingingmechanism comprises a single pivot point.
 18. A method of supporting anoverhead display assembly, the method comprising: providing acounter-balanced hinging mechanism, wherein the counter-balanced hingingmechanism comprises: at least one pivot bar having a cam roller; and abias member coupled to the at least one pivot bar, the bias memberconfigured to apply a variable amount of force to the at least one pivotbar; coupling the counter-balanced hinging mechanism to a supportstanchion; coupling at least one cam to the support stanchion, the atleast one cam including a curved cam surface configured to engage thecam roller of the at least one pivot bar; and coupling a monitor frameto the counter-balanced hinging mechanism.